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Aran
islanders are getting the opportunity to skip age of petrol fumes. This week got their first glimpse of the electric car that
could pave the way for a total transformation of life as they know it.

The first Mega 'e-City' three-door hatchback arrived on Inis Mór on
Tuesday for residents to test drive. One of their most pressing
questions for the accompanying boffins was if this brainchild of French
engineers could conquer the island's notoriously steep hills without
the benefit of petrol or diesel.

One thing they know already is that if the car hits its top speed of
64kph they will almost certainly escape the wrath of the law - the
speed limit across the three islands is just 60kph.

The electric car, which is about the same size as a Nissan Micra, is
one of ten to be rolled out across the three islands as part of a
three-year pilot project to see if the wind and ocean can generate
enough energy for electricity, heat and transport for a small community.

The project, which is a collaboration between Sustainable Energy
Ireland (SEI) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht
Affairs, attracted tenders from 18 companies from around Europe.

From January there will be six cars leased to residents of Inis Mór,
two to Inis Meain and two to Inis Oirr, with different households
chosen for each year of the project.

Interested motorists must apply to the local co-op, Comharchumann
Forbartha Árann Teo, to be accepted, but they must have a clean licence
and driving history, they must be under 65 and currently drive a fully
taxed vehicle.

According to Fiona Smith of (SEI), successful applicants will have
to pay a nominal amount for the lease of the car, around €12, a fee for
a connection charge point on the outside of their home, which will be
around €330, and then the cost of the electricity to run it. That is
likely to be no more than €60 for the year.

The electric car consumes 130 units per km, whereas a similarly
sized car such as a Peugeot 107 consumes 520 units per km. Motorists
are tipped to save up to 80% in fuel costs.

"It really is a much, much more efficient alternative," explained Ms
Smith. "This could become an alternative to shipping in fuel, making
the island more self reliant and sustainable."

Dara O'Maoildhia, secretary of the energy community on Inis Mór,
said his first impressions of the first bright orange 'e-City' were
extremely positive.

"It's roomy in the front, there's no sense you're up against the
window. But in the back I would say there's room only for two children.
It's got electric windows, reversing sensors, it's comfortable enough.
I've no doubt people will be interested in it," he told the Connacht
Tribune.

Queries put to the engineers by residents during their day-long
visit to the island included how long the car would run before it
needed charging, how long it would take for a car to be fixed and how
many charging devices were necessary on the island.

These are all issues likely to be ironed out before the launch in early January.

The energy committees on the three islands have been pushing for
more energy efficient alternatives for some years. Inis Mór now boasts
an electric post van, while tourists can now rent electric bikes to
explore the island.

"Our vision for the island is to have no requirement for carbon fuel
of any kind, no need for coal, petrol or diesel so that homes are
heated and cars are run on alternative energy. We pay more for coal and
more for a gallon of diesel than anywhere in the country - at the
moment diesel is €1.06, whereas on the island it's €1.20," said Mr
O'Maoildhia.

He hopes smart meters will be installed in participating houses
within the next three years, which will be attached to the side of the
fuse box to monitor the electricity going in and out. Windmills may be
built in the gardens and any energy generated will be directed by this
smart box into the house to be used in the most efficient way.

"The smart meter will direct the electricity to the battery of the
car when the price of electricity is low, but when the price is high,
it will be dropped into the electricity grid and you can make a
fortune. "At least that's the plan," he said.

Since its construction in the 1930s, the Vauban military base on the
outskirts of Freiburg, Germany, has housed the Nazis, the French army
and bands of squatting hippies and anarchists. These days, Vauban is
home to a new crowd: environmentalists.

A decade ago, most of the
barracks were torn down to make way for a sustainable community that
has become a sort of green utopia. Now, photovoltaic cells have
replaced traditional roof tiles, bicycles outnumber cars and futuristic
houses generate more energy than they consume. read more